Guidacerio, Agatho

Guidacerio, Agatho an Italian Hebraist, born at Rocca-Coragio (Calabria), was still living in 1539. After having taken holy orders, he studied Hebrew at Rome under a Portuguese rabbi, and was appointed afterwards to teach that language. His life was much in danger during the year 1527, and having retired to Avignon, he found a protector in the bishop of Apt, Jean Nicolai, who took him to Paris. Guidacerio was appointed royal professor by Francis I, in 1530. He interpreted at the College of France both the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Scriptures, and wrote, Grammatica Ebraice Linguae (Rome, 1514; Paris, 1529; under the title of Peculium, Paris, 1537); a dozen treatises, or commentaries on the Psalms; a commentary on the Song of Songs, with the Hebrew and Latin texts (Rome, 1524), and a commentary on Ecclesiastes (1531). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.